Luckily for impacted growers, Healdsburg's program came online this year, providing roughly a dozen vineyards like Rued's free reclaimed water either via truck or through a pipeline where a direct connection can be tapped. The program, intended to offset the use of potable water and irrigate up to 25,000 acres in the Alexander, Dry Creek and upper Russian River valleys, is forecast to use 43 million gallons of treated wastewater per season, according to city data.

Quantifying ROI, especially when it comes to digital media, is not as slippery or elusive as it used to be. "With the advances in technology today, it's possible to understand the context of sales," said Karena Breslin, Vice President of Digital Marketing at Constellation. "It's been absent from the conversation for a long time and it really doesn't need to be anymore."

Larry Brooks from Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo said they started harvesting grapes last week, which is about three weeks earlier than usual. He said it's the earliest he's seen a harvest in his more than 35 years working there. Usually, the harvest starts around Labor Day.

Washington's growth is coming from new blocks of vines coming into production this year, particularly red varieties in the warm Horse Heaven Hills south of the Yakima Valley. It's also expected to be among the warmest on record. As of Aug. 17, the 2014 growing season was ahead of the hot 2013 vintage and well ahead of the long-term average.

Sunday's earthquake caused extensive damage to some Napa Valley wineries, but the pattern was unpredictable, with some close to the epicenter faring better than those farther away. The landmark building at Trefethen Family Vineyards sustained major damage in Sunday's quake, with the upper floors leaning 4 feet to the west

For the past decade and a half, Vanessa Robledo has been at the helm of two small North Coast wineries that have among the pioneers in expanding the market for fine wine into rather untapped ethnic demographics

Wherever warranted, waivers will be approved based on the statutory standard of reasonable cause. To qualify for such a waiver, a taxpayer must demonstrate the earthquake directly affected ability to timely file ...

Although some places sustained losses in the thousands of dollars, wine drinkers can breathe a sigh of relief since the damage from Sunday's earthquake -- while devastating for some residents and Napa's famed wineries -- is not likely to affect how much you pay for that bottle of red or white, experts said.

"We are working with our business partners and other hotels throughout Napa Valley to assist in any way that we can," said Michael Palmer, general manager of The Meritage Resort and Spa. "We have been offering special rates to residents who cannot go back home because of structural damage, been in contact with hotels in Downtown Napa that have had to move guests, and are continuing to work with our staff to ensure that they and their families are safe."

"Most wineries in Napa Valley are located north of where the earthquake was centered," read a statement from the Wine Institute, a trade group. Those facilities "seem to have experienced minimal damage and disruption."

The beverage packaging industry in North America is expected to reach $26.3 billion in 2015, with plastic bottles leading the way in popularity, according to "Beverage Packaging - An Industry Assessment," scheduled for release next month by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.

Napa County officials have asked the NVV to serve as a centralized resource by compiling information about damages and losses experienced by wineries.
The NVV is also planning a workshop later this week to help those affected by the earthquake with their immediate questions.
Harvest is underway in Napa Valley and everyone is working hard to get business "back to normal" as quickly as possible

With another frigid winter in the forecast for 2015-2016, a one-day conference with a focus on climate change and impacts of the 2014 Polar Vortex on grapes in the Great Lakes Region is quite timely. The conference will be held Sept. 5 at the Hagerty Center at Northwestern Michigan College - Great Lakes Campus in Traverse City, MI.